smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Greece
| Greece overall | This Advice is current for Saturday, 31 July 2010. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and Security: Civil Unrest/Political Tension (increase in bomb attacks). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Greece because of the risk of terrorist attack. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
Groups opposed to the Greek Government, Greek institutions, Western commercial and diplomatic interests have bombed government, commercial and other buildings in Greece on several occasions. These attacks have increased over recent months. Some have resulted in death and/or injury. In March 2010, a bombing in Athens resulted in the death of a 15 year old boy and injuries to two other people. Further attacks cannot be ruled out.
Violent rioting can break out with little warning in Athens and other Greek cities, including Thessaloniki. Australians should exercise particular care in the centre of Athens, Thessaloniki and other major cities. On 6 December 2008, the shooting of a teenager in Athens sparked a period of violent rioting. Australians should be particularly vigilant during days of national or commemorative significance, as the likelihood of civil unrest may increase. You should avoid all protests and demonstrations as they may become violent.
Strikes are occurring more frequently in Greece since the government announced spending cutbacks. Transport, including flights, could be affected. Australians should monitor the media and be prepared to change their travel plans in case of disruptions.
Crime, including pickpocketing and bag snatching, can take place in tourist areas and on public transport. Australians should exercise particular caution in the Omonia and Exarchia areas of central Athens.
You should exercise caution when walking alone and avoid, where possible, secluded areas after dark. Tourists have been the victims of serious assault, including sexual assault, including in Athens and on the Greek Islands.
In recent years, people have been killed as a result of accidents and poor safety standards on regional buses and ferries. Use of reputable bus and ferry operators may reduce associated risks.
Driving in Greece can be hazardous due to aggressive driving practices and poorly maintained roads and vehicles. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.
A valid Australian driver’s licence and an international driver’s licence are both required to legally operate a vehicle in Greece. Drivers’ licences should be valid for the type of vehicle being driven, including for ‘quad’ motorbikes. Driving in Greece can be hazardous due to aggressive driving practices and poorly maintained roads and vehicles. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.
When travelling by motorcycle or motor scooter, both the operator and any passengers must wear a helmet. Failure to do so could invalidate your travel insurance if you are involved in an accident.
Please refer to our travel bulletin for information about Aviation Safety and Security.
Greece is in an active seismic zone. Information on natural disasters, including earthquakes and volcanic activity, can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service.
Bush and forest fires often occur during the summer months in Greece (usually June to September), particularly in heavily forested regions. In the event of fire, updates in English are available from local authorities by calling +30 210 324 8098.
If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice and obey instructions of local authorities.
Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Greece, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
You must carry identification documents – such as your passport - with you at all times.
Driving offences attract heavy penalties.
Penalties for all drug offences, even for possession of small amounts, include heavy fines and imprisonment.
Possession of offensive weapons, such as knuckledusters or knives with a length of 10 cm or more, can lead to imprisonment.
It is illegal to photograph military installations and military personnel.
Indecent behaviour, such as indecent exposure, is not tolerated in Greece and penalties include heavy fines and prison sentences.
The export of Greek antiquities is subject to strict customs regulations. Penalties for illegally exporting antiquities range from large fines to prison terms. Further advice can be obtained from the Greek Ministry of Culture or the nearest Greek Embassy or Consulate.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Be aware that all areas of Greece enforce a public quiet time between 3 pm and 6 pm for siesta. Police may be called to enforce this custom.
Australian /Greek dual nationals should be aware the Greek Government introduced a new series of passports in 2007 and old style Greek passports issued before 1 January 2006 ceased to be valid from midnight on 31 December 2006. Greek/Australian dual nationals should ensure that they travel on the new series of Greek Passports and/or a valid Australian passport. Holders of old-style Greek passports issued before 1 January 2006 should contact the nearest Greek Embassy or Consulate if they wish to obtain a new Greek passport.
Australian/Greek dual national males, or those of Greek descent born outside of Greece, could be subject to compulsory military service and other obligations. Under the Greek Military Penal Code there are penalties for non-compliance. Adult male travellers who hold, or may be eligible for Greek citizenship, are strongly advised to seek further information and advice from the nearest Greek Embassy or Consulate, well in advance of travel.
Our brochure on Travel Information for Dual Nationals provides further information for dual nationals.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Greek Embassy or Consulate for the most up to date information.
Greece is a party to the Schengen Convention, along with 24 other European countries, which allows Australians to enter Greece without a visa in some circumstances. For further information read our travel bulletin on the Schengen Convention. Australians may, for a fee, apply to extend their stay in Greece at a local Kentro Allodapon (Aliens Centre).
People travelling directly to or from a country outside the EU carrying 10,000 euros or more (or the equivalent amount in another currency) are required to declare the cash at the place of their arrival or departure from the EU. Under the legislation, the term "cash" includes cheques, travellers' cheques and money orders. Travellers failing to declare the cash or providing incomplete or incorrect information will incur a fine. There is no requirement to declare cash for people travelling to or from another EU country.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while travelling overseas.
The standard of medical facilities in Greece varies from adequate to international standard. Private hospital costs are expensive. In the event of a serious illness or accident, particularly when in a remote country area or on a Greek island, medical evacuation to Athens, or to another destination with the required facilities, might be necessary. Costs could be considerable.
Outbreaks of food-borne diseases (including hepatitis and brucellosis) occur from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We recommend you avoid raw and undercooked food, and avoid unpasteurised dairy products.
Travel in rural and forested areas brings the risk of exposure to tick-borne diseases (such as tick-borne encephalitis and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever). Ticks are particularly active from spring to autumn. We recommend you take measures to avoid tick bites, including using insect repellent, when visiting these areas.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
In Greece, you can obtain consular assistance from the:
Australian Embassy
Thon Building, Level 6
Cnr. Kifisias and Alexandras Ave.
Ambelokipi
Athens 115 23 GREECE
Telephone +30 210 870 4000
Facsimile +30 210 870 4055
Website www.greece.embassy.gov.au
Limited consular assistance, which does not include the issue of Australian passports, may be obtained from:
Australian Honorary Consul
28 Archeologikou Mouseiou Street
Thessaloniki 546 41 GREECE
Telephone +30 2310 827 494
Facsimile +30 2310 827 494
If you are travelling to Greece, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
